b. 29/11/1888 South Bathurst, Canada. d. 18/04/1969 Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada.
Herman James Good (1888-1969) was born on 29th November 1888 at South Bathurst, Gloucester County, New Brunswick, Canada. His father, Walter Frederick Good married Rebecca Anne Sealy on 25th April 1883 at South Bathurst, where they were both born. Herman had fourteen siblings.
Herman was educated at Big River School, Gloucester County and he worked as a lumberjack. He enlisted on 29th June 1915 at Sussex, New Brunswick in C Company, 55th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, described as a farmer. He sailed for England aboard SS Corsican on 31st October 1915, arriving on 9th November. He transferred to 12th Battalion on 12th April 1916 and was taken on strength on 16th April when he was landed in France and joined the Canadian Base Depot. He joined the Battalion on 8th May. Herman was wounded on 18th May and was admitted to 3rd Canadian Field Ambulance. He was transferred to 2nd Canadian Field Ambulance next day and rejoined the unit on 26th June. On 27th September 1916 he had a narrow escape when a shell passed through his legs and exploded, throwing him several feet in the air. He suffered from shell shock and was admitted to 3rd and 5th Canadian Field Ambulance the same day. He was transferred to 7th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples. He did not rejoin his unit until 24th October. He was promoted to Corporal on 5th May 1918.
Herman J Good VC
Corporal Good was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism on August 8th, 1918, the opening day of the attack by the Canadian Corps at Amiens, France when in attack his company was held up by heavy fire from three machine guns, which were seriously delaying the advance. Realising the gravity of the situation, this N.C.O. dashed forward alone, killing several of the garrison and capturing the remainder. Later on Cpl. Good, while alone, encountered a battery of 5.9-inch guns, which were in action at the time. Collecting three men of his section, he charged the battery under point-blank fire and captured the entire crews of three guns.
His citation was published in the London Gazette on 27th September 1918, and he received his medal at Buckingham Palace from King George V on 29th March 1919. He was gassed during his action, and struggled with a cough for the rest of his life. He would not return to his Battalion until 13th September 1918. He was promoted to lance sergeant on 17th September and was granted 14 days leave to Britain on 18th September. Herman was in the Army of Occupation in Germany and crossed the Rhine on 13th December 1918. He moved to Belgium on 6th January 1919 and England on 18th March, just prior to his investiture.
At the end of the war, Good returned to the Bathurst area. He married Martha Blanche Moore, born at Big River, Gloucester County on 6th August 1919. They went on to have three children – Franklin Arnold (born 1921), Alfred Gordon (born 1922) amd Milton (who died as an infant). He received a trememdous welcome on his return to Canada, and was employed in farming and lumbering. He was Fish, Game and Fire Warden for Bathurst District for twenty years and also acted as guide to visiting game hunters. He joined the New Brunswick Travel Bureau in 1927.
In addition to Good, nine other members of the Canadian Corps earned Victoria Crosses between 8th and 13th August—Lieutenants Jean Brillant and James Edward Tait, Sergeants Robert Spall and Raphael Louis Zengel, Corporals Alexander Picton Brereton, Frederick George Coppins, and Harry Garnet Bedford Miner and Privates John Bernard Croak and Thomas Dinesen.
He attended the VC Dinner at the House of Lords on 9th November 1929. In 1931 he presented President Herbert Hoover with a hamper of moose steaks, venison and Atlantic salmon at the White House, Washington DC. In 1939 he was presented to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth when they visited Fredericton.
Herman Good laid the cornerstone for Branch Number 18 of the Royal Canadian Legion, Bathurst, NB in the 1960s. A couple of years later, it was named for this Bathurst native son. On one evening when he was visiting the club with friends, an Italian man began to disturb the patrons. Herman assisted the owner in throwing the man out. The Italian drew a gun and fired at Herman, though fortunately the bullet only struck a glancing blow to his left temple, leaving a permanent scar.
Herman James Good died on April 18th, 1969, in Bathurst, New Brunswick, following a five-year illness following a stroke. He was buried in St Albans Cemetery, Bathurst with a simple black marker on the grave. On 9th August 2006, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission replaced the marker with a new headstone. Herman is commemorated with Plaque No 15 at York Cemetery, Toronto, on the VC obelisk at Barrie, Ontario, on a memorial tablet at the Museum of Royal Highlanders of Canada, Montreal and with a VC commemorative stone at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.
In addition to the VC he was awarded the British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953 and Canadian Centennial Medal 1967. The group was acquired by the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa in November 2013, using part of the Museum’s National Collection Fund.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM, OTTAWA.
BURIAL PLACE: ST ALBANS CEMETERY, BATHURST, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.
Acknowledgement:
Canadian War Museum – Images of the Good VC Medal Group and VC Medal.